The Network for sustainable Digital Research Infrastructure Vision and Expertise (NetDRIVE) has been set up to provide a forum for managers, software engineers, academics and others to come together to build a common vision for a sustainable future and to incite a transition to sustainable working practices in the Digital Research Infrastructure communities. Find out about the themes below.

 

Green Software Engineering

This theme covers a wide spectrum of digitised instructions and knowledge systems, whether a code used or developed by a researcher, or the environment within which such codes run (e.g. schedulers on multi-user machines or use of ChatGPT as a tool). It covers the whole lifecycle of development of software, from gathering requirements, through design, implementation and deployment, and the science of doing so in an efficient manner. Traditionally, Software Engineering has focussed on functionality, reliability, extensibility and how well the software product performs in terms of time, hardware resources and people to maintain it. Green software engineering shifts the focus to sustainable use of resources which can be achieved both through efficient programming and an inclusive approach to project management and development. 

Target audience: Research software engineers, computational scientists,  

Topics: Skills and Career Pathways, data workflows, exploiting/taming artificial intelligence, exploiting novel architectures 

Objective: Develop and embed the paradigm of green software engineering in the UKRI research culture.

Systematic Change

“Sustainability - the critical application of creative thinking and technology to secure our future on this small planet ” (Richard Rogers, 1995)1 

Increase in computational efficiency over recent decades have been offset by increases in capacity, resulting in a net increase in the carbon footprint for computation. Such gains in efficiency in computation are essential, but to convert efficiencies into emissions reductions, avoid the rebound effect, and remain aligned with the balanced pathway to net zero, we need a paradigm shift in the evaluation of computation and the use of computing in research. We need continuous assessment and focus on the mission of achieving sustainability as well as active measures to counter the risk of enhanced demand negating efficiency gains. Working with peers and suppliers to understand the mutual benefits of a low carbon supply chain is essential. UKRI needs to support the Climate Change Committee’s balanced pathway for achieving national sustainability by delivering high levels of innovation while restraining resource usage. 

Target audience: Team and institute leaders, strategic planners, policy makers 

Topics: System level view, delivering value, block rebound, culture shift, EDI, RRI, open science and data,  

Objective: Ensure that the UKRI DRI achieves a clear leadership role in the net zero transition.

Machine Room and Hardware 

Amazing gains in computational power and capacity are being delivered through advances in technology which also drive increases in complexity of hardware and associated supply chains. We need to bring sustainability to the forefront of the management of our infrastructure. Full and authoritative life cycle analysis of infrastructure will be needed, including effective measurement and management of impacts during the use phase, clear contracts and conditionalities to develop a low carbon supply chain, and clear end-of-life planning for hardware. 

Target audience: Infrastructure funders, machine room operators, infrastructure policy, 

Topics: Procurement, lifecycle analysis, sustainable capacity, HPC, cloud 

Objective: Deliver platforms for sustainable research computing.

 

Galvanising Individual Action

Behaviour change is difficult to guide but crucial in the pursuit of DRI Net Zero. All staff (from student to CEO) should be mandated and empowered to take proportionate action to drive change and reduce the environmental impact of their work. Discussions among colleagues, proven to be effective in fostering positive changes, should be encouraged. work must start now with commitment appropriate to the climate emergency while recognising the need for adjustments and learning from experience as we seek a pathway to sustainability.   

Topics: Empowerment, motivation, creative thinking. 

Target audience: UKRI staff using or managing the DRI. 

Objective: Build a sense of individual and community engagement and ownership of the transformation